DILI, 11 September 2023 (TATOLI)—The Press Council of Timor-Leste (PC-TL) requested the Military senior officials in Myanmar to respect and guarantee press freedom, freedom of expression, and opinion for media actors in Myanmar.
The president of Press Council Timor-Leste, Otelio Ote said PC-TL released this statement based on the discussion result from the Dili Dialogue Forum (DDF). This statement is in accordance with the International conference. Timor-Leste Press Council also a member of the South East Asia Press Council Network (SEAPC-Net) demands the actual political situation in Myanmar, especially in the freedom of the press sector.
“Two weeks ago we realized the DDF which was attended by our partners from other countries and inside the country and we strongly recommend for Myanmar issue,” explained CI Chairman, Otelio Ote at a press conference at the PC Kintal Boot office, this Monday.
Press country member, Benevides C. Barros said that it is very important for the Press Council to express solidarity with the situation of press freedom in Myanmar which has received intimidation, threats, and punishment from the joint military aggression action.
“We express our deep concern for the media and fellow journalists in Myanmar, currently They are not carrying out activities as journalists, some have moved to Australia because intensive pressure, intimidation, and arrests in Myanmar require them to leave their country,” he said
He emphasized that this information was confirmed directly by Jim Nolan, IFJ (International Federation of Journalists) Media Officer for Asia Pacific who was present at DDF on 01 September 2023.
“Press Council asks the officials or full authorities in Myanmar to respect press freedom and freedom of expression in Myanmar and all journalists in Myanmar and other Asian countries to remain resistant to human rights,” he said.
According to the International Federation for Journalists (IFJ) publication on May 31, 2023, a report from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) Burma explained that as of May 30, at least 18,417 people were currently in detention in Myanmar, 6,106 of who were serving sentences.
At least 176 journalists have been arrested, with four killed since the military coup on February 1, 2021, and as many as 47 people remain in prison or police custody.
According to the IFJ’s annual Killed List for 2022, Myanmar now has the second-highest number of murdered journalists in the world after China.
On May 3, Myanmar’s military junta released five journalists in a ‘humanitarian’ amnesty of 2,153 prisoners. The IFJ continues to call on international governments to increase pressure on the military leadership by any means possible, including the use of the law to sanction international human rights violators abroad.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
